The state government is planning a six-lane expressway that will connect Bhubaneswar Airport with the proposed airport at Puri.
The proposed expressway will start from the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar and end at Shri Jagannath International Airport (SJIA), Puri will have no internal roads connected to it. The road will be designed for a speed of 120 kmph. Once completed, this will reduce the present distance of 66 km to 57 km between Bhubaneswar and Puri and the travel time from one hour to 30 minutes.
Though funding modalities have not been worked out, as per the preliminary estimates the project will involve an investment of Rs 3,600 crore. Around 1,300 acres of land would be acquired at an estimated Rs 1,010 crore for the project.
The PWD has already floated a tender for selection of a consultant to conduct a detailed survey, design the Expressway and map the bridges and flyovers to be constructed to avoid the internal roads connecting it.
The right of way (RoW) proposed along with the highway is around 100 metre so that it can include the metro rail system in future. The Centre had earlier expressed its interest to develop another road from Bhubaneswar to Puri. It wanted the state to do the land acquisition. Once the DPR for the Expressway is ready, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will be approached.
